The Dane County Farmer’s Market (DCFM) is a fun stop for people living in or visiting Madison. 
Frequently rated as one of the best in the nation, the Farmer’s Market is on our short list of things to do on a lazy Saturday, or with out of town visitors- and everyone is always pleased to experience the market.
With dozens of vendors selling all manner of produce, flowers, and food related products (cheese, honey, breads, etc), along with scattered political advocacy groups and politicians, the DCFM can be a bit overwhelming at first. Our advice? Don’t panic. It’s OK if you don’t stop at every booth. You don’t have to buy everything ( or even anything), or talk to every single purveyor. Just take your time. Mellow out and go with the flow.
We like that last bit especially. We go to the market to have a fun, meandering walk. Maybe we’ll sample a few things, and pick up a bag of veggies, but mostly we go for the atmosphere, the people watching and the walk in the outdoors.
Our Farmer’s Market gets crowded very quickly, so we highly recommend that you go early. (It opens at 6 AM). Strollers and wagons are difficult to maneuver through the later crowds, so it’s probably best to plan on carrying or backpacking with your little ones.
For our kids, one of the best treats is to sample the wares of the booths that allow freebies, especially the cheese vendors. After a single circuit of the market, and many cheesy nibbles, our kids are good for a while before they’ll need another snack.
If you can’t make it to the DCFM, find a different one near you– it’s good exercise and always beneficial to make friends with a local farmer!